Extractor-engager device



July 28, 1959 w. s. FORD 2,897,033

EXTRACTOR-ENGAGER DEVICE Filed July 28. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lAlvE/vmtWILBUR ,$LA- 19 W. 5. FORD EXTRACTOR-ENGAGER DEVICE July 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28. 1955 WVf/VTO/E, W/LBUI? S/LA9 FO/ED C; M j M-)TTOR/VEYS y 28, 1959 w. 5. FORD 2,897,033

EXTRACTOR-ENGAGER DEVICE Filed July 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIlA/l/E/V 7-0/2, t W/LBUR 's/ms FORD J m, 5 JM 1 W A TTO/P/VEYS July 28,1959 w. 5. FORD EXTRACTOR-ENGAGER mzvxcz 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 28.1955 T 4.2 m H 5 i m v V, v m

INVA TO P WLBl/R SIMS FORD J AT 4 TORIVEfi United States PatentEXTRACTOR-ENGAGER DEVICE Wilbur Silas Ford, Burwood, near Sydney, NewSouth Wales, Australia, assignor to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia)Limited, Sydney, Australia Application July 28, 1955, Serial No. 525,038

Claims priority, application Australia December 13, 1954 3 Claims. (Cl.312-320) The present invention relates to a mechanical extractorengagercontrivance and more particularly to a contrivance which may be used forthe purpose of connecting and disconnecting plug and socket connectorson detachable components.

The invention is particularly adapted for use inconnection with theextracting and engaging'of rack mounted electric units employing certaintypes. of rear mounted plug and socket connectors which requireconsiderable, pressure to engage or extract.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive andreliable mechanical extractor-engager contrivance of robust constructionwhich is easy to fit to the front of rack mounted electric unitsemploying rear mounted plug and socket connectors and which in responseto small physical pressures is capable of applying adequate force to thefront of the unit for the insertion of the plug into the socket and forits withdrawal from the socket.

In order, however, that the invention may be clearly understood andreadily carried into practical effect, reference is now directed to thefollowing description in connection-with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figs. 1 and la illustrate aconventional rack mounting arrangement forelectricalunits employing the present invention,

Fig. 2' is a front elevation showing a preferred practical applicationof the present invention,

Fig. 2a is a sectional side elevation ofthe extractorengager contrivanceillustrated by Fig. 2 and taken on the plane 22.thereof,

Fig. 3 is a considerably enlarged sectional side elevation taken-on theplane 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the operating handle in the lowered-position,

Fig. 3a is a considerably enlarged sectional side elevation taken on theplane 33* of Fig. 2 with theoperating handle in the raised position,

Fig. 4a-illustrates the method of assembling the component parts of theleft hand side of the contrivance and Fig. 4b shows the opposite side ofthe levering and-locking component of Fig. 4a.

Invarious applications employing electrical apparatus such as forexample the installation of radio communication equipment in aircraft,it is conventional practice to house the components comprising variouselectrical circults-in box-like units and to. assemble thesebox-likeunits insuitable mounting racks.

The type of rack 11 usually employed and the method of assembling thebox-like units in the rack is generally indicated-in Figs. 1 and 1a ofthe drawing.

The basic parts of the rack 11 are the horizontal members 30- and theside members 31. The horizontal members each consist ofa channel sectionone flange 32 of which is turnedinwards toallow a flush face to bepresented to-the front and back of the rack assembly.

The horizontal members 30- are supported in any convenient manner inspaced parallel relationship on suitable support members, such as forexample angle brackets 33' which may be attached in conveniently spacedrelationship to the aircraft or other housing structure.

The side members 31 are generally in the form of anglesections with partof the vertical flange extending toform a triangular side panel 34.

The side members are used in pairs consisting of one left hand and oneright hand member to form a guideway 35 into which the box-like unit 10is slid until it engages the locating spigots 36' which are mounted onopposite sides of a back plate 37 and which control the alignment of theunit 10. The back plate 37 is supported in any convenient manner at theback of the rack 11.

In the present example the back plate 37 isattached to the verticalflange 34 of the side members 31.

Cooperating members of a back connecting plug and socket arrangement aremounted in registering relationship, one member on the back plate 37 andthe other member on back of the box-like unit 10.

The cooperating members may comprise a plurality of contact pinsarranged to be inserted collectively in a socket having a plurality ofsimilarly arranged complementary apertures with female contacts therein.In the present example the plug or male section 38 of the back connectoris mounted on the back of the box-like unit '10. and the socket orfemale section '39 of the. connector is mounted on the back plate 37.

Automatic location of the connector plugs 38 and sockets 39 with theirinstrument counterparts is arranged by spigots 36 on the back plate 37which engage in housings 40 in the box-like unit 10.

However, due to the high contact pressure and" long insertion distancesrequired to obtain and maintain reliable and satisfactory engagement ofback connectors of the type customarily employed in the applications ofthe type described considerable force is required to insert or extractthe units to which they are applied.

Inorder to provide the required force associated with the insertion andwithdrawal of units fitted with back connectors of thetype described amechanical extractorengager device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is attached to the front panel of the unit 10 forcooperation with a fitting 16 on the rack 11 in. the manner hereinafterto be described.

The contrivance in accordance with the present invention comprises fourmain components some of which are duplicated as will be understood fromthe following description in connection with Figs. 2 to 4 of thedrawing.

First there is a U-shaped handle 12'with comparatively short arms 13.Secondly, there is a hinge block 14 for each arm 13-, designed to besecured to the front lower portion of the box-like unit 10.

Thirdly, there is a levering-and-locking integer 15 pivoted to the innerface of each of the blocks14 and finally there is a bracket 16 whichprovides a socket and fulcrum for a nose 17 formed on thelevering-and-locking integer 15.

Each arm of the handle 12 has fast in its end portion a pin 18, the endsof which are rotatable in cheeksv 19 constituting part of the hingeblocks 14.

The levering-and-locking integers 15 are of somewhat triangular form(see more particularly Figs. 4a and 4b) and each has formed in it twoseparate slots 20 and 21 longitudinally in alignment with each other.The slot 20 in each of the levering-and-locking integers 15' serves toreceive a stationary pin 22 which is secured in a lug 23 formed integralwith the related hinge-block 14; and' the slot 21 surrounds and servesas a. track for an extension 24 of the inner end portion of the pin 18.

The inner end portion of each pin 18 has formed integrally andeccentrically with it a circular cam 25 which is movable within anenlargement 25a of the slot 21 in the face of the levering-and-lockinginteger 15. The lower portion of the integer comprises the beforementioned nose 17 and the latter engages a socket 26 in bracket 16. Oneof these brackets 16 is aflixed to the racking 11 a little below and toone side of each hinge block 14.

1 There is a projection 27 on the inner face of each arm 13 of thehandle 12 and this projection is so located that when the handle 12 israised the projection 27 will engage a corresponding projection 28 onthe outer face of the integer 15 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The method of assembling the contrivance of the present invention may bebetter understood by referring to Fig. 4a of the drawing. The arm 13 onthe left side of the handle 12 is inserted between the cheeks 19 of theleft side hinge block 14 so that the hole 41 in the arm 13 is in linewith the holes 42 in the cheeks 19 of the hinge block 14. The shaft 18which is a bearing fit in the holes 41-42 is placed through the holes41---42 and pinned to the arm 13 by means of a pin 43 which is insertedin the registering holes 4445 in the arm 13 and shaft 18 respectively.The levering-and-locking integer 15 is placed in position by passing thepin 22 through the slot and the pin 24 through the slot 21.

Washers 46 are placed on the protruding ends of the pins-2224 and heldin position by retaining clips 47 which fit into the grooves 48 on theends of the pins 22-24. V

When the integer 15 is placed in position as outlined above the cam 25,which is seated in the enlargement a, actuates the integer 15 ashereinafter described.

Although the description of Fig. 4 has been restricted to partsassociated with the left hand side of the device, the construction andarrangement of corresponding parts for the right hand side will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoingdescription and the drawings.

Assuming that the hinge blocks 14 of this improved extractor-engagercontrivance have been secured by the bolts 49 and nuts 50 to the lowerportion of the front panel of the box-like unit 10 to be accommodated inthe racking 11 and assuming too that the brackets 16 have been afiixedto the racking 11 immediately below the levering-and-locking intergers15, the manner of using the contrivance is as follows:

' The box-like unit 10 is lifted and placed onto the guides in thesection allotted to it in the rack 11 as indicated in Fig. 1, and pushedalong the guides towards the rear of the rack where the aligning spigots36 will enter the complementary housings in the box-like unit 10 andguide the connector members 38-39 into engagement.

The handle 12 is normally raised to its full extent by the operator whenplacing the unit 10 in the racking 11. It is held in this position whilethe unit 10 is being pushed along the guides 35 and until movement ofthe unit 10 is stopped by the contact resistance of the connectingmembers 38-39. The handle is then lowered until the nose 17 is locatedin the socket 26 and its downward movement is arrested by the locatingof the nose 17 of the integer 15in the socket 26 of the bracket 16.

All is then in readiness for a final downward pressure to be exerted onthe handle 12 so that the components 3839 of the aforesaid connectorwill be forced into positive mechanical and electrical engagement witheach other. At this stage the handle 12 is moved in a downward directionto cause the arms 13 to assume the vertical position or a positionslightly beyond the vertical as shown in Fig. 3.

In the early stages of this movement the cam 25, which is eccentricallymounted on the pin 18 is brought into 7 4 into contact with the innerside of the front wall of the socket 26 which is fixedly attached to theracking 11. Further downward movement of the handle 12 causes the cam 25to exert considerable outward pressure on the lever-and-locking integer15.

However, further outward movement of the integer 15 is prevented by theengagement of the heel of the boltlike nose 17 with the inner surface ofthe outside wall of the socket 26. The arrested forward movement of thelever-and-locking device 15 in this manner causes the bolt-like nose 17to act as a fulcrum, whereby any further outward pressure as a result ofcontinued downward movement of the handle 12 causes thelever-and-locking integer 15 to function as a lever and through themedium of pin 22 compels the movable box-like unit 10 to recede alongits guides until the components of the aforesaid connector at its rearare finally and properly engaged.

In withdrawing the box-like unit 10 with the aid of this improvedcontrivance the handle 12 is raised so that the cam 25 at each side willagain cause the levering-andlocking integer 15 to function as a lever,but this time in the opposite direction. This action is brought about inthe following manner. At the commencement of the movement to raise thehandle 12 the cam 25, which is eccentrically attached to the pin 18, isnow caused to contact the inner surface of the back wall of theenlargement 25a. This causes the lever and locking integer 15 to moveback towards the box 10 until the toe of the boltlike nose 17 is broughtinto engagement with the adjacent wall of the fixed socket 26. Thisarrests the backward movement of the integer 15. Further movement of thehandle 12 in the upward direction will cause the cam 25 to exert anincreasing backward pressure on the rear wall of the enlargement 25a.However, due to the arrested backward movement of the nose 17, it actsas a fulcrum whereby any further backward pressure as a result ofcontinued upward movement of the handle 12 causes the lever-and-lockinginteger 15 .to function as a lever and through the medium of pin 22exerts a withdrawing force on the box 10. That is to say, the leverageon this occasion is exerted to force apart the components of theaforesaid connector at the rear of the box-like unit 10. In exertingthis leverage the toe of the nose 17 will necessarily be forced againstthe adjacent wall of socket 26 to constitute a fulcrum for the relatedlevering-and-locking integer 15. When the handle 12 has been raised tosome extent, in its approach to the horizontal, the projections 27 onthe inner face of its arms 13 engage the adjacent projections 28 on theouter face of the levering-and-locking integers and raise the latter sothat the bolt-like nose 17 of each is withdrawn from its socket 26below.

The box-like unit 10 can then be lifted from its compartment with theassurance that the components of the beforementioned connector at theback of the unit 10 have been entirely Withdrawn from engagement witheach other.

I claim:

1. A mechanical extractor-engager device for use with a box-likeelectric unit designed for mounting in a rack, said device comprising incombination a U-shaped handle having short arms, a hinge-block for eachof said arms adapted to be secured to the front of a box-like electricunit, each of said arms having a first pivot pin journaled.

in its associated hinge-block, a cam member eccentrically fixed to eachpivot pin, an extension pin fixed to each cam member and extending fromsaid cam member parallel to and offset from the associated first pivotpin, a second pivot pin on each hinge-block, a levering and lockinginteger associated with each hinge block and having first and secondlongitudinal slots arranged in longitudinal alignment, said firstlongitudinal slot being adapted to receive the associated secod pivotpin to permit the pivotal and longitudinal movement of saidassociated'levering and locking integer, said second longitudinal slQtbeing adapted to receive the g i t d tension pin and having a recess inthe side adjacent the associated cam member to provide a track for saidcam member, a bracket adapted to be aflixed to said rack immediatelybelow each levering and locking integer, and a nose portion on eachlevering and locking integer for engaging a socket in the associatedbracket to cause the associated cam member to exert pressure against theassociated levering and locking integer when said handle is raised orlowered.

2. A mechanical extractor-engager device as defined in claim 1, whereineach arm of said handle has projections thereon adapted to engageprojections on the outer face of the associated levering and lockinginteger to lift the latter clear of said bracket when said handle isfully raised.

3. A mechanical extractor-engager device as defined in claim 1, whereineach levering and locking integer is mounted on the inner face of theassociated hinge-block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,514,246 Knox July 4, 1950 2,609,268 Nye Sept. 2, 1952 2,714,195 BeattyJuly 26, 1955 2,735,077 Jessee et al Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS672,146 Great Britain May 14, 1952 974,126 France Sept. 27, 19501,006,047 France Jan. 9, 1952

